Your thoughts please on this Motor and LNB

[thecaretaker]

I've been hunting around for a suitable motorised dish set-up.

I found a complete set for sale, 88cm dish, lnb, brackets, clips, meter, cable and even an installation guide all for just £125

It contains an LNB called the Dark Gold 0.1dB Single Universal LNB
I've never seen an LNB with such a low claimed noise rating before. Is this just hype or is it as good as 'they say' the reviews for it are?

With it, comes Super Dark DiSEqC 1.2 Motor with Metal Gears
Again, are the metal gears an advantage or just hype?

If anybody has any experience of this motor and LNB/setup I would really appreciate the heads up before waste my money?

As a newbie, I like the idea of a complete kit as it should all fit and work with each other.

You've about 6 hours left... say no more!

 

[satelliteman]

Living in the dark is not always going to give you the best results, lol

Sounds a fairly good deal although the L type bracket which generally comes complete with the package deal are not really recommended for a motor installation. A pro install would consist of T&K bracket arrangement and a steel/scoffold pole, still this can be done DIY.

Like I say, it's sounds a good deal but be prepared to spend a few more pounds on extra bracketry.

SM

 

[thecaretaker]

Thank you Satelliteman

Would I need an 18" or 24" T&K bracket for a 85cm dish?

I should wait until mariust5 gets in touch with me re this post, but it's been 3 weeks and I'm getting really itchy feet wanting to get a move on.

 

[satelliteman]

This depends on the viewable satellites where the dish is located although 12" to 18" should be fine I would say.

SM

 

[Robbo]

Thank you Satelliteman

Would I need an 18" or 24" T&K bracket for a 85cm dish?

It depends which way the wall faces with respect to south, and how much of the arc you want to reach. For example, on a perfectly south facing wall, to reach 45 degrees either way, with an 88cm dish, 12 inch T&K brackets would suffice.

 

[thecaretaker]

Thanks Robbo.

I've gone for an 18" T&K bracket and purchased the kit.

I'm not directly south (as I always thought I was). Using my sons Scouts compass, I'm just off South toward the west.

It will be going on a flat wall, so I assumed if the dish was just under 3ft wide with the fixing to the pole being in the centre, if the dish was moved a full 90 degrees, I'd need 18" clearance from the wall.

As it stands, I wouldn't be able to move it to that extent due to the house next door and my porch.

I've done a little image in paint with it's positioning and what I expect the movement will be (guestimate):


I'm looking at getting 1° West Thor 3/4, 12.5° West Atlantic Bird (for the FTA National Geo HD UK), more stability in bad weather on the 4 sats I have now (13,23,19 and 28E) and anything else in English will be a bonus.

I don't know what my chances of getting 12.5° are here on the southeast coast with an 85cm dish. Time will tell.

Now all I have to do is overcome my fear of heights! That will be the hardest part for me.

 

[satelliteman]

looks good although I don't think the dish will need to travel that far to cover the 75º turn.

EDIT: Image added.

I go from 57e to 58w with less of a dish turn than shown in your diagram.

Image shows an example with 12 Inch TK of dish turn showing South

 

[thecaretaker]

Thanks again satelliteman

Yes, you would be right. It means I'd probably pick up more satellites than I first thought. That's good news.

Being this low is good for me, I only hope the local toe rags don't use my dish for football practise lol

I'll let you know how I get on and how well it performs. Even if it means posting from a hospital bed with both legs in plaster if I fall off the ladder hehehehehe

 

[satelliteman]

Best take a look at this then

http://www.satellites.co.uk/satelli...7176-safety-guidelines-dish-installation.html

SM

 

[Robbo]

I think the 18" ones are a good idea anyway, if anything does go a bit wrong, the dish will not be able to crash into the wall.

One of the problems I found when I first tried to put a dish on a wall, standing on a ladder was carrying the dish without dropping it. A 90cm steel dish, does have a bit of weight to it, when held one handed.

How do you guys manage it SM?

I almost dropped the f*****ng thing.

 

[satelliteman]

It won't be the first time I have dropped a dish from ladder height Robbo

 

[Robbo]

I hope you charged the customer extra for the dents.

 

[thecaretaker]

Best take a look at this then

http://www.satellites.co.uk/satelli...7176-safety-guidelines-dish-installation.html

SM

Now that was funny and very poetic.

Part of my job in school is that I am a manual handling assessor and Health and Safety co-ordinator. I should know better, but It wouldn't be the first time I've been carried up to the local hospital with a damaged back cos I have done something stupid